Now that Halloween is over, many people are turning their attention to the holiday season. While that may mean plenty of good food and gift-giving throughout American households, for employees working outdoors it could mean greater risk brought on by exposure to winter weather.

In many states, businesses will soon be dealing with cold temperatures and rising snow levels. For employees exposed to the elements, this means performing duties in frigid and slippery conditions – especially if you’re in the construction industry.

From driving vehicles on the job, to walking safely in snowy jobsites, and overall employee health and safety, your company’s risk management plan should address the broad scope of winter weather concerns.

Start with Vehicle Safety
One of the first winter weather risks to address is vehicle safety. Naturally, winter weather complicates both driving to work and operating vehicles on the job. As you prepare your construction firm for this season, it can be beneficial to check over these critical elements:

Vehicle Readiness - Are your vehicles ready for winter weather? Check all company vehicles to ensure tires are inflated to the proper tire pressure levels. Visually inspect and test the batteries to make sure everything is working as it should be. Test all vehicle lights and brake systems. Ensure driver visibility is maximized by double-checking windshields and wiper blades for excessive streaking or cracks. It’s also a good idea to schedule, or set reminders, to perform inspections regularly throughout the year and especially during the winter season.

Emergency Kits - It’s also a good idea to include emergency kits in each vehicle. These can include first aid supplies, jumper cables, winter clothes, blankets as well as food and water. Should anything happen to your workers, they will be prepared with the necessary supplies.

Driver Education - Winter driving requires different tactics than summer driving. Spend some time going over safe driving behavior to ensure each of your employees is ready for this season's weather. Our fleet driver safety tips can be used as a starting point for conversations highlighting good driver behavior in common high-risk road situations.

Review On-The-Job Safety
Go over on-the-job safety Address on-the-job winter safety with your employees. If you have a construction site which is exposed to the elements, you'll need to ensure your team is as safe and warm as possible during the work day.

That means talking about:

Proper Clothing - It’s crucial that your employees are wearing the right gear on the job. Everything from coveralls and helmet liners to gloves and boots need a winter upgrade. You may want to schedule a brief meeting to discuss proper clothing or provide educational materials for your staff. Have supervisors be on the lookout for any gear that isn't up to standards.

Worksite Maintenance - As the snow falls, you have to find a way to keep the jobsite clear. Snow removal can get complicated, and when performed insufficiently, can be dangerous. Make it a point to review your jobsite snow removal strategy and maintenance plan with your employees ahead of time. Heavily trafficked paths must be clean and coated with salt, and supervisors should inspect the area prior to the start of each day and more frequently during times of heavy snowfall.

Heating Aids - During winter, it can get tempting to turn to heating aids for warmth. Items such as portable heaters are useful, but they can be costly and dangerous. If you allow portable heaters on your jobsite, discuss safe use practices with your staff members. It’s also smart to inspect any heaters before use to find potential faults.

Promote Overall Health and Safety
Finally, you should talk with your organization about overall on-the-job health and safety. During winter, the main concern is the well-being of your workers. Being outside in the cold for long hours can lead to a number of injuries or illnesses.

Provide educational resources on the dangers of cold stress, such as frostbite, hypothermia and trench foot. Our Identifying Cold Stress Injuries whitepaper is a great resource to start with when arming employees with the knowledge to identify symptoms and respond with the appropriate medical care.

With a comprehensive winter risk management plan in place, your construction workers will be able to operate safely all year long.

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